Don't Let The Rabbits Distract You

Recently while working at the animal shelter, I learned a lesson that could have major implications and be of major help to many.  It was a cloudy cool morning and threatening rain.  The atmosphere had a feel of something pending, like the calm before the storm.  As I was making the morning rounds, one of the dogs started barking incessantly, and as a result all the others joined in.  Most were running around barking and looking about as if to say “What are we barking at?”  All that I did would not calm and quiet the dogs down (which is usually fairly easy to do).  I soon got distracted by all the barking and so forgot to clip the latch on one particular dog.  This dog happens to be able to flip the latch if not clipped and before long, she was running around, creating even more chaos.  My heart sank as I saw my boss come out and grab the escapee.   After she was home again, the barking continued, and neither I nor my boss could calm them for long.

As I was finishing up the rounds, I was in one particular dogs kennel and noticed a small rabbit hopping around out by the front gate.  This dog also happened to be a hunting dog and had a direct line of sight to the front gate.  It was this dog that had started the morning chaos, and caused me to be momentarily distracted.  If the escapee had gotten in with the neighbor’s dog, chances are a fight would have ensued.  I started thinking that all this happened because of one small, cute, innocent rabbit.  It caused mas chaos and much confusion among the dogs, as well as frustration and distraction on my part.  All came out okay, but could have turned out very badly all because of a little rabbit.

 Often times, we encounter circumstances that create chaos and distraction from our walk and relationship with Jesus Christ, and sometimes they are just an annoyance, other times, they lead to more distractions, and other times, lead to a major life and/or spiritual altering event.  Sometimes if we are not careful, it’s the small things that can ruin our lives.  It’s the small things that can cause us to lose focus momentarily and can create a major catastrophe, whether physical or spiritual. In Luke 10:38-42 we find this story:  “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.   She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"  "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."  Martha became distracted by the rabbits of working, which produced an attitude problem with her sister Mary, and with Jesus.  She became grumpy and frustrated by the preparations and creating fertile ground for sin.  She had let the rabbit of preparation distract her from the opportunity at hand.  What she was doing was necessary, but she allowed distraction to take her attitude and spirit in a bad direction.  Mary on the other hand, was taking the opportunity to sit at Jesus feet, even though she knew preparations needed to be made.  Mary had not let the rabbit get the best of her and she kept her focus on the important thing.

 We all have the potential to be distracted and not take the opportunity to sit at Jesus feet and just listen and know that there will be time for the other things.  By doing this, we can keep ourselves from a sinful attitude.  While many things may look important, sometimes the rabbit distracts us and we are focused on the wrong thing.  Mary was listening to the voice of her Master, but Martha allowed anger and bad attitude become her voice she was listening to.  So, the lesson learned is to not let the rabbit distract you into not focusing on what is most important at the moment.  Hebrews 12:1 and 2 gives us some great advice for how to handle those rabbits of sin and bad attitude: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” 

 

Father, I pray for the reader that they will learn to recognize the rabbits that distract them and to learn to fix their eyes on Jesus.  Help them to see what is important and most needful in order to steer clear of sin and its devastating consequences.  I not only pray form the reader, but myself as well.  Help us to all to fix our eyes on you in order to not be distracted by the rabbits.